Method of making packages



Feb. 7, 1939. D. E. MAXFIELD 2,146,308

METHOD OF MAKING PACKAGES Filed Feb. 1S, 1938 Q\ Fa? s INVENTOR. M 2. M d' ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 7, 1939 METHOD F MAKING PACKAGES Daniel E. Maxfield, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Stokes and Smith Company, Summerdale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 15, 1938, Serial No. 190,570

9 Claims.

My invention relates to the manufacture, filling and sealing of packages or containers made of flexible material, and particularly material, such as Cellophane or other lm, which is easily torn and/or presents unusual cost or difficulty in printing thereon.

In accordance with my invention, a web, preferably of thermo-plastic material, is formed into a tube with the longitudinal margins of the web projecting side by side from the tube; the tube is transversely flattened at intervals, with concurrent application of heat to the flattened porltions, to form a series of containers; before, during, or after lling of each container a second narrow web or strip is applied to overlie, cap or embrace the projecting web margins so that, when the tube and the applied web or strip are severed from their Webs, there results a detached filled package having an individual cap or clip.

More particularly, the narrow capping strip or web may be of thermo-plastic material joined upon application of heat to the margins of the main web embraced thereby, or, alternatively, or in addition. the capping strip may be held in margin-embracing position by eyelets, or equivalent fastening means, so spaced, longitudinally of the tube, that at least one of them appears in the cap or clip of each container.

Further, when the container is of material, such as Cellophane, which is easily torn, the capping strip is preferably of different material, such as paper, having materially greater tensile strength; and, when the container web is of material, such as waxed or oiled paper, Cellophane or the like, involving unusual cost or diiiculty in printing thereon, the capping strip is preferably of different material, or of differently surfaced material, better suited for printing.

Also in accordance with my invention, the caps or clips may be made from the package web itself by forming the tube with projecting margins of unequal width and thereafter folding the wider margin over and into engagement with the other margin to which it is attached thermoplastically or by adhesive, eyelets, or both.

My invention further resides in the methods of making packages, hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1, in perspective, illustrates a series of containers at various stages of their manufac- 55 ture;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of container;

Fig. 3, in perspective, illustrates the nal stages of a modification of the method of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, in perspective, illustrates another meth- 5 od of forming containers from a continuous web;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a package produced by the method of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 illustrates a still further method of producingcapped packages from web material;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, on enlarged scale, of the capped end of a package produced by the method of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. l, the web W of any suitable flexible material, such as moisture-proof Cellophane, Diaiane, Pliolm, or the like, which is itself a thermo-plastic, or of any suitable flexible material which is impregnated or coated with a suitable thermo-plastic, is drawn from the roll R over the forming tube l to form a tube T from which project the margins M, M of the web. The feeding of the web W may be effected by tools 2, 2 which move toward each other to flatten the tube T below the end of the forming tube l and thereafter, while still holding the web, move downwardly to extend substantially corresponding to the width of the package to be formed. As the tube T is formed and pulled downwardly, the ange M, M projecting therefrom is capped by the narrow strip S of suitable material drawn from the roll SR. The capping strip S is clamped by the tools 2, 2 concurrently with their flattening of the tube T so that simultaneously with feeding of web W by the tools 2, 2, the strip S is progressively applied to embrace 'the margins M, M of the web.

The narrow strip or web S may be of thermoplastic material, that is, the strip S may be of material which is itself thermo-plastic or of suitable material coated or impregnated with a thermo-plastic. During, or after, application of strip S to embrace the margins M, M, heat and pressure may be applied, as by the rolls 3, 3, preferably grooved, to join the strip S to the margins M, M, and concurrently to join the margins M, M to each other, thus concurrently to seal the edge of the tube and to apply a reinforcement or cap to the seal.

The clamping tools 2, 2 are preferably heated so that when they flatten the tube T, as above described, there is produced the sealing section BT comprising the seal BS forming the bottom of one receptacle C, Whose open top surrounds the forming tube I, and the seal ST closing' the upper edge of the previously filled receptacle Cl. Bl

By intermittent feed of the web, there is thus produced a series of lled and sealed containers joined to each other by the flattened sealed sections BT between them and by the continuous strip S. The containers are, in turn, detached from the tube T, as by suitable knife structure 4 which severs the flattened seal section BT between two adjacent lled and sealed containers, such as C2, C3, and also concurrently cuts the applied capping strip S.

Particularly when it is intended the individual packages be hung from hooks on a display board or strung along a wire, holes H are punched through the strip S and the embraced margins M, M to receive the eyelets E which are inserted in advance of knife 4, or equivalent, which detaches the containers from the webbing. The intervals between the holes H are such that at least one eyelet appears in the capped edge or clip of each container.

When the nature of the contents does not require substantially perfect sealing of the containers,.it is not necessary that rolls 3, 3 or their equivalent be heated, or that heat be applied to the margins M, M of the web before or after application of strip S; in such event, the tools 2, 2 may be of such extent that the seals BS and ST extend entirely across the tube and also across the applied strip S thus to join the strip S to the web material at least at the areas ultimately forming two corners of the completed package (Fig. 2) and in addition, or alternatively, the strip S may be held to the margins M, M by the eyelets E.

'Ihus in accord with Figs. 1 and 2, each package is provided with an individual cap, overseal, or clip S joined to opposite edges of the container and through which may be an eyelet E. When the eyelets E are omitted, it is preferable that strip S be joined to margins M, M throughout its length (Fig. 3), as by application of heat. The resulting packages, C8 of Fig. 3, may be detached in turn from tube T by cutting the tube T transversely through the fiattened sealing sections BT. l

Strip S may be held to the margins M, M solely by eyelets E, in which event the margins are joined to each other and the sealing sections BT are formed prior to the application of strip S: the resulting package is shown in Fig. 5. Because the cap or seal presents a fiat surface, unbroken by sealing ridges, this method is preferred when it is desired that printing appear on the cap or overseal; in such case the capping strip S is preferably of paper, or the like, better suited for printing than transparent film, such as Cellophane, of which the web W may be comprised.

Any of the forms of package previously described may be made in accordance with the method illustrated in Fig. 4 of which it is characteristic the margins M, M of the web are not joined until after filling of the containers formed from the web. Specifically, the web WI fed from the roll RI is formed into a tube TI which is open longitudinally because of separation of the margins M, M, as by the bar 5. The open tube TI is attened, as by heated clamping tools similar to tools 2, 2 of Fig. 1, to provide a series of containers C9-CI4 connected to each other by transverse sealing sections BT which terminate short of the edges of the web. As each container in turn passes below the filling tube la, or equivalent, it receives its intended contents. Beyond the filling' tube la, the margins M, M of the web W are joined, as by passage between the heated rolls 3a, 3a, and then capped by strip S which is fed from roll SR and brought into position to embrace the margins M, M, as by the rolls 3, 3. Strip S may be of heat-sealing material. in which event the rolls 3, 3 are heated to join strip S to the previously joined margins M, M, or alternatively, the capping strip of heat-sealing material may be folded over the margins M, M in advance of rolls 3a, 3a so that, by a single operation the margins are joined to each other and to the capping strip. In the latter case, the rolls 3, 3 may be omitted.

If it is unnecessary to procure continuous joinder of strip S with the margins. holes H, H may be punched through the margins and the capping strip to receive eyelets E so spaced that at least one of them appears in each package. Strip S, as removed from roll R, may have printing thereon, such as advertising matter, a trade name, or directions of use, or such printing may be impressed upon the strip S at any time prior to its arrival at the station where the finished containers are cut from the tube Tl It is characteristic of the individual packages C3, C4, C5, and C8 that each comprises a web element having margins which are joined to form the sealed edges ST, BS of the package and having margins which are capped by a clip fastened thereto and comprising therewith a third edge of the package.

At least some of the advantages of modifications previously described may be procured without need to resort to separate capping strip; specifically referring to Fig. 6, the tube T2 formed from the web of material, generally as in Fig. 4, is unsymmetri'cal, having one margin MI substantially wider than the other margin M. The margins are left unjoined, as in the method of Fig. 4, until after lling of the individual containers, whereupon the wider margin MI is folded over and joined to the narrow margin M in any suitable manner, specifically by application of heat and/or by eyelets E as herein specifically described in connection with the other modifications.

For brevity the term thermo-plastic" shall be understood to relate to the surface characteristics 0f the web or film, whether it itself consists of thermo-plastic material, or is a non-thermo-plastic material either impregnated with thermoplastic material or coated therewith on either or both sides.

While preferred methods and. packages have been specifically illustrated and described, it is to be understood my invention is not limited thereto but is coextensive in scope with the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The method of making filled sealed packages which comprises forming from a web of flexible material a tube from which the margins of the web project side by side, fiattening and sealing the tube transversely at intervals to form a series of containers joined by iiattened sealing sections, filling the containers, capping and sealing the web margins, and thereafter transversely severing the webbing through the flattened sealing sections to detach filled capped packages.

2. The method of making filled sealed packages which comprises forming from a web of fiexible material a tube from which the margins of the web project side by side, fiattening and sealing the tube transversely at intervals to form a series of containers joined by fiattened sealing sections,

lling the containers, applying a strip of exible material to overlie and connect with the projecting web margins, and thereafter transversely severing a tube and its applied strip through a flattened sealing section to constitute a detached filled sealed package having an individual clip overlying an edge thereof.

3. The method of making filled sealed packages which comprises forming from a web of flexible material a tube from which the margins of the web project side by side, adhesively applying a strip of flexible material to overlie and connect with the projecting web margins, thereafter flattening and sealing the tube transversely to form a series of containers joined by flattened sealing sections and the applied strip, filling the containers, and thereafter transversely severing a tube and its applied strip through a flattened sealing section to constitute a detached filled sealed package having an individual clip overf lying an edge thereof.

4. The method of making lled sealed packages which comprises forming from a web of flexible material a tube from which the margins of the web project side by side, effecting continuous joinder of the projecting margins of the web, applying a separate strip of flexible material to overlie the projecting margins, at intervals along the tube inserting fastening members through the applied strip and the margins embraced thereby, iiattening and sealing the tube transversely to form a series of containers joined by flattened sealing sections, filling the containers, and thereafter transversely severing the applied strip and the tube through the flattened sealing sections in succession to detach the filled sealed packages.

5. The method of making filled sealed packages which comprises forming from a web of flexible thermo-plastic material a tube from which the margins of the web project side by side, applying a strip of flexible thermo-plastic material to overlie the projecting web margins, applying heat and pressure to join the margins to each other and the applied strip to said margins, flattening the tube transversely with concurrent application of heat to form a series of containers formed by flattened sealing sections, filling the containers, and thereafter transversely severing the applied strip and the tube through the flattened sealing vsections to detach filled sealed packages.

"6. The method of making filled sealed packages which comprises forming from a web of flexible thermo-plastic material a tube from which the margins of the web project side by side, applying heat to effect joinder of the margins, applying a.

strip of flexible material to overlie the projecting web margins, thereafter flattening the tube and strip transversely with concurrent application of heat to form a series of containers joined by flattened sealing sections, lling the containers, and thereafter transversely severing the applied strip and the tube through the flattened sealing sections to detach filled sealed packages there from.

7. The method of making filled sealed packages which comprises forming from a web of flexible thermo-plastic material a tube from which the margins of the web project side by side, applying heat to join the projecting margins, applying a strip of flexible thermo-plastic material to overlie the projecting web margins, thereafter flattening the tube and strip transversely with concurrent application of heat to form a series of containers joined by flattened sealing sections, filling the container, inserting eyelets through the applied strip and the embraced margins at intervals spaced longitudinally of the tube, and thereafter transversely severing the applied strip and the tube through the flattened sealing sections to detach filled sealed packages each having an individual clip with an eyelet therethrough.

8. 'I'he method of making filled sealed packages which comprises forming from a web of flexible thermo-plastic material a tube from which the margins of the web project side by side, attening and sealing the tube transversely to form a series of containers joined by flattened sealing sections, lling the containers, applying heat to join the projecting margins, thereafter applying a strip of flexible material to overlie the web margins, effecting joinder of the applied strip to the margins and thereafter transversely severing the applied strip and the tube through the flattened sealing sections to detach filled sealed packages each having an individual clip overlying an edge thereof.

9. The method of making filled sealed packages which comprises forming from a web of flexible thermo-plastic material a tube from which the margins of the web project side by side, fiattening the tube transversely to form a series of containers joined by flattened sealing sections, filling the containers, thereafter applying heat to join the web margins, securing a strip of flexible material in position to overlie the projecting web margins by a series of eyelets passed through the strip and the margins, and thereafter transversely severing the applied strip and the tube through the flattened sealing sections to detach nlled sealed packages.

DANIEL nusxrmn. 55

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,1ll6,508

February Y, 1959 DANIEL E. MAXFIEID.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: In the grant, line 2, andinthe heading to the printed specification, insert --Philadelph1a,

address of' assignee, aftej:`

, es shown by the record of assignments in this Suxmnerdale office; page l, second column, line 26, for "extend" read --extent--g -and 'that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of January, A. D. llil.

Henry lian Arsdale, 

